Categories for Green Bulding

Minneapolis Mayor RT Rybak announced the launch of the Minneapolis Green Homes North Initiative to create 100 new homes in the North Minneapolis neighborhood that are environmentally friendly. Sela partner Andersen Windows has been selected as a supplier!

Congratulations to the City of Minneapolis for taking on this challenge!

We expect great things from the folks at Google when it comes to technology, but they are extending their forward thinking to their new roof as well. Google is expanding their HUGE headquarters by over a MILLION feet and one of the included design elements is a green roof.

NBBJ, a Seattle-based design firm, is working with Google on the 42-acre expansion that will double its current 65-building headquarters in Mountain View, California. This is the first time Google has started new construction. In the past they have retrofitted the existing buildings.

The new complex, dubbed Bay View, will consist of nine building when finished – and look like big rectangles that are connected by bridges that lead to green rooftops – one of which will have an outdoor cafe.

For the first time ever, Owens Corning is allowing homeowners to join contractors in a commitment to recycling roofing materials. As a recipient of the company’s Top Single Recycler award, we would like to encourage you to join us in taking the pledge.

From OwensCorning.com:

To take the pledge in markets where recycling is available, homeowners simply visitwww.roofing.owenscorning.com and select “Recycle Now.” In addition to connecting with local contractors committed to shingle recycling, everyone who takes the pledge will also receive a free reusable tote bag while supplies last. Homeowners who do not currently have shingle recycling available in their area can show their interest in shingle recycling by filling out a form on the website, which will help Owens Corning Roofing & Asphalt rally support from contractors in their local community. To learn more, simply visit the Sustainable Roofing page on the site.

We want to congratulate our supplier Owens Corning on their continued commitment to going green. As part of this effort, they have released their sustainability report for last year and, boy, we are impressed!

From OwensCorning.com:

Owens Corning released its sixth-annual Sustainability Report, highlighted by year-over-year intensity reductions in all environmental goals set and an impressive list of innovation-driven achievements.

Among the key accomplishments highlighted in the report is a reduction in waste-to-landfill intensity by 22 percent in 2011. That represents an absolute reduction of more than 37,000 metric tons. Owens Corning also reduced its toxic air emissions intensity by 37 percent last year. That amounts to an absolute reduction of 236 metric tons.

Building on the successes of its first 10-year goals, this is the first year the company is reporting against its new 2020 goals. Introduced last year, the company’s 2020 goals are designed to expand the scope and further raise the bar on its commitment to sustainability.